Bawney, The Legendary Cat
Long, long ago, long before your time, there lived a mouse in a cave in a place called Derc Ferna. Today it is known as Dunmore. This was before a place called Kilkenny even existed. His name was Luchtigern, an old Irish name. In Irish luch means ‘mouse’ and tigern meant ‘lord’, for Luchtigern was the mouse-lord of all the lands around Dunmore and far across Ireland.
But my ancestor Bawny, a fearless warrior cat, came and a mighty battle followed. His real name was Banghaisgidheach*, but we all called him Bawny for short. He was one cat against an army of mice. He should never have had a chance but he was huge and a hellcat and, with sharp tooth and pointy claws, he killed mice in their thousands until only he and Luchtigern were left. They fought each other for a day and a night but in the end, Bawny won, and the mighty reign of the Kilkenny Cat started.
Bawny’s story was so famous it was recorded in the Book of Leinster in the 12th century. You can still visit the cave today. It is the darkest place in Ireland. If you go there, into the deepest part of the cave, some cats still say you can see two bright shining lights in the dark. Are they Bawny’s eyes? He hasn’t gone away, you know.
* Pronounced: Bawn–gash-kuh-duck
